Electric-signal wiring system



J. H. DERBY ET AL ELECTRIC SIGNAL WIRING SYSTEM Filed Jung}, 1919'T/rermaafaf INVEINTOR A ORNEY Patented May 5, 1925.

urrao srre PA'FNT OFFICE.

JOHN Bl. DERBY, OF NEW YQRK, N. Y., AND JOSEPH E. BOWDEN, F NEWARK, NEWJERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

. ELECTRIC-SIGNAL WIRING- SYSTEM.

Application filed June 8,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN H. DERBY and JosnrH E. Bowman, citizens of theUnited States, residing at New York, N. Y.,

and Newark, New Jersey, respectively, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Electric-Signal Wiring Systems, of which thefollowing is a clear, full, and exact description.

This invention relates to electric wiring systems, and particularly tothe wiring of electric signaling systems, and a general object of theinvention is to reduce to a practicable minimum the labor, the materialand the skill required to instal a signaling system in which a pluralityofsignaling devices are to be separately controlled from each of aseries of signal transmitting stations.

The invention is shown as embodied in a fire alarm signaling system ofthe closed circuit, automatic trouble detector type, but it will beunderstood that the invention is not restricted to the illustratedembodiment and uses.

An important feature of the invention, as shown in the illustratedembodiment, is the utilization of two Wires for connecting the series ofsignal transmitting stations, with 30 make and break means at eachstation to send one class of signals and other means at each station forshort-circuiting a resistance in the circuit,"which is common to all ofsaid stations, for sending another class of signals or controllinganother signaling apparatus or another set of signaling apparatus. Otherobjects, important features and advantages ofthe invention will appearfrom the following description and claims when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a wiring diagramshowing the invention embodied in a fire-alarm signaling ystem ada tedfor transmitting both a local alarm an an alarm-to fire departmentheadquarters; and

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the invention embodied in a three-wirecircuit, including both a fire-alarm circuit of the type shown in. Fig.1 and a watchmans circuit.

In the embodiment of the invention illus- 1919. Seriai no. sci,s12.

trated in Fig. 1, which shows the wiring of a fire-alarm system adaptedto transmit either a local or an outside alarm at the will of the onewho operates the box at the transmitting station, and which isparticularly adapted for a building of several stories in height, such.for example, as an apartment building, the signal stations are shown at2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and each comprises a signal transmitting box or othersuitable structure through which pass two wires 12 and 14 of thetwo-wire transmitting circuit, having at its end remote from the localreceivin station or board '16 a resistance 18 sufiicient to cut down thenormal current flowing through the-circuit below that required tooperate one class of signaling apparatus, for example, that whichcontrols the transmission of the fire-alarmto fire departmentheadquarters outside the building. It will be noted that the resistance18 bridges the two sides of the circuit formed by the wires 12, 14,- andis in parallel with thermostatically operated circuit-closers 20 adaptedto short-circuit the resistance 18 when they are operated, thesecircuitclosers being between the resistance 18 and the source of currentsupply and likewise bridging the two sides 12 and 14 of the circuit.

At each of the signal boxes 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 is provided make-and-breakmeans 22 for sending a signal through the circuit the make-and-breakmeans 22 of the several stations being in series u on one side of thetwo-wire circuit 12 an in Fig. 1 in series in the side 14, and each ofsaid means is normally in circuit-closing position. There is alsoprovided at each of the stations 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, means 24 for bridgingthe two sides 12, 14 of the circuit and short-circuiting the resistance18 to increase the current flow in the circuit. The means 24 maycompriseany suitable circuit closing mechanism of well-knownconstruction, normally in open position in the box, or it may comprisespaced terminals adapted to be closed by a key not normally in the box.

The current normally flowing through the closed circuit may be from ansuitable source, such as a direct current lig ting cir- 14, being showncuit, and is shown as brought in upon the board 16 through the leads 26and 28, and referably asses through fuses 30 and 32.

he norma 1y closed circuit controlled by the si al transmitting meanscomes in upon t e board 16 from said signal stations at 34 and 36. Thiscircuit will now be traced, beginning with the lead 28 from the sourceof current sup ly. From the lead 28, the current passes t rough the fuse30, through the wire 38, to the post 36 where the wire 14 from thesignal stations 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and from the thermostatic circuit closers20 comes in upon the board 16. The current then passes through the wire14 of the two-wire circuit and through the make-and-breaksignaltransmitting devices 22, through the resistance 18 at the end ofthe two-wire line, back through the wire 12, trip box 48 controlling thesending of the signal to the fire department, punching register 96, to-the post 34, upon the board 16, then through the wire 40, solenoid 42,wires 62, 64 and fuse 32 back to the other lead 26 from the source ofcurrent The? solenoid 42 controls a switch 66 carried by the solenoidcore 68, which is adapted to short-circuit a trouble relay 70 in anormally closed circuit, now to be described, by bridging the terminals72 and 74. The circuit in which the trouble relay 70 is situated alsoincludes a number of local signaling devices adapted to be controlled bythe make-and-break signal transmitting means at the respective signaltransmitting stations. Starting from the lead 28, the circuit whichincludes the trouble relay 7 0 runs through the fuse 30, wire 38, wire76, resistance 78, wires 80, 82, single-stroke gongs 84, 86, 88, wire90, trouble relay 70, wire 102, wire 64 and fuse 32, back to lead 26.ThI0l1%l;lhthlS circuit flows only a small current. is current, althoughinsuflicient to operate the gongs 84, 86, 88, 92, etc, is, however,suflicient to hold the armature 110 of the trouble relay in open circuitposition with r ect to the terminal 112 of a local trouble circuit,including a bell 114, this circuit being connectedto a local battery116.

The trip coil 48 is arranged to pull the armature 118 when theresistance 18 is short-circuited and the current flow increases, thusrocking the arm 126 out of engagement with the pin 129 on the signaltransmitting wheel 130. This signal trans.- mitting wheel may be of anywell-known construction having depressions to permit the separation ofthe terminals 131 and 132 of the circuit wires 133 and 134 running tothe fire department, thus transmitting a characteristic make-and-breaksignal to the fire department.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the fire-alarm systemwill be undernot been cut out.

the switch 66 stood. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the parts areall in the position in which the circuit is closed through all of thetransmitting devices 22 and the resistance18 has lVith the parts in theposition shown in Fig. l, the minimum or normal current is flowinthrough the circuit. This current is $11 cient to maintain in theposition shown in Fig. 1. The minimum current is also passing throughthe circuit, which includes the] trouble relay 106.

If it isdesired to send .a local signal by means of one of themake-and-break devices 22, it will be seen that when any one of thesedevices is operated to break the circuit which includes the Wires 12 and14 and the resistance 18, the current flowing through the solenoid 42,which has been sufficient to hold the switch 66 in the position shown inFig. 1, will be interrupted'and the switch 66 will engage the terminals72 and 74 and short-circuit the trouble relay 70, thus deenergizing thisrelay and permitting its armature 110 to engage the terminal 112 andclose the circuit'through the trouble gong 70 and the milli-ampere meter114 and the battery 116. The gong 114 will therefore ring as long as thecircuit through the wire 14 is broken. Short-circuiting of the troublerelay 70 also causes an increased flow of current through the circuit,which includes the gongs 84, 86, 88, 92 and the punching register 96. Ashereinabove suggested, the gongs 84, 86, 88 and 92 are preferably singlestroke gongs so that with the breaking of the circuit by any transmitter22, each gong will give one signal.

As soon as the circuit through the wires 12, 14 and the signaltransmitting devices 22 is again closed, the switch 66 will again belifted, thus bringing the trouble relay 70 again into its circuit,thereby causing the circuit through the trouble gong 114 to be brokenand again deenergizing the solenoids of the gongs 84, 86, 88 and 92sufiiciently so that they will not hold the strikers in bell engagingposltion.

To maintain the current flow through the gongs 84, 86, 88 and 92 belowoperating level in the circuit which includes the trouble relay 70, therelay magnet 70 is wound for high resistance, thus cutting down thecurrent flowing through th'w circuit until the magnet 7 0 isshort-circuited by the dropping of the switch 66. i

It will be understood, of course, that any suitable mechanism may beprovided for repeating the make-and-break signal through thetransmitting means 22 a number of times to make a characteristic signalfor thebox. such means being. well known in the art. Furthermore, thesignal may be recorded upon atape by the punching register 96 of wellknown construction,

When it is desired to send a signal to fire department headquarters, theresistance 18 is short-circuited at any one of the transmitting stations2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 through the bridging or short-circuiting means 24.The increase of current in' the circuit caused by cutting out theresistance 18 operates the trip relay coil 48 to pull the armature 118to release the signal transmitting wheel 130, which as it rotatespermits the separation of the terminals 132, 131 in a wellknown manner,thereby causing a characteristic make-and-break signal to be transmittedto the fire department. The mechanism is preferably so constructed thatthe parts must be reset by hand.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings is shown a modification of the invention inwhich the normal signaling system shown in Fig. 1 is enlarged to includea local watchmans circuit by the addition of a single wire to the signaltransmitting line, that is, by running through the signal boxes orstations three wires instead of two. In Fig. 2 the wires 12 and .14,resistance 18, the signal transmitting means 22, the short circuitingmeans or plug switch 24, the solenoid .42, the switch 66 and the tripcoil 48 arran ed to send a signal to fire department hea quarterscorrespond to the like numbered parts in Fig. 1; also the trouble relay70, batte 116, relay gong 114, the armature 110, an the terminal 112correspond to the like numbered arts in the trouble circuit shown inFig. 1. ihe local circuit corresponding to that through the gongs 84, 86and 88 of Fig. 1 is shown in Fig. "2 as fed by a battery 136, althoughof course it may receive current in the same manner as the correspondincircuit in Fig. 1, and this circuit inclu es a series of single strokegongs 138, 140, 142 corresponding to the gangs 84, 86 and 88.

Through each of the signal transmitting boxes, of which one is shown at144, a third wire 146, in addition to the wires 12 and 14, is assed, inwhich is located preferably ma e-and-break signal transmitting means 148for a local watchmans circuit. Both this circuit and the circuit whichincludes the resistance 18 are shown as fed by a battery 150, for whichof course may be substituted direct current from the lighting means asshown in Fig. 1.

The watchmans circuit, which may include any suitable signalingapparatus 152, is in parallel with the circuit through the wires 12 and14, the wire 12 constituting a common return wire for the two circuitsand not including any of the si alin apparatus or any of the make-an-brea signal transmitting means. It will be noted also that thewatchmans circuit is shunted into the'circuit throu h the wires 12 and14 at a point between 51a resistance 18 and the source of current orbattery 150. To 1115111 tain a balance in the normal current flowthrough the two circuits, a resistance 154 is included in the watchmanscircuit.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that operation of thesignal transmitting means 148 will have no eflect upon the circuitthrough the wires 12 and 14, and that by the addition of a single Wire,provision has been made at each of the signal transmitting stations fortransmitting sig nals in a wholly independent signaling system. By theinvention hereinabove disclosed,

there has been provided a most simple arrangement of wirin and of signaltransmitting means in t e si al transmitting circuit for controllin alof the difierent types of signals whic itis now usual to instal inconnection with signaling systems in buildings, articularly fire-alarmsignaling systems, t e si al transmitting circuit consisting essential yof only two wires passing through each signal station and requiring onlyt e simplest of well known signal transmitting devices for controllingthe sending of signals. There has thus been eftected a ve reat saving inmaterial and in labor, an t ere has a so been produced a when s stemwhich technica s '11 to instal a to maintain in operative condition.

What we claim as new is:

1. In an electric signaling system, in com bination, a closed circuithaving therein apparatus operable on a predetermined increase-of currentin said closed circuit and also havin therein a paratus operable by makeand reak of t e normal current in said circuit, resistance in saidcircuit maintainin the current below operating level for saidfirst-mentioned apparatus, normally closed make-and-break signaltransmitters in series in said circuit, and means at the res ectlvetransmitter stations in parallel wi said resistance for short-circuitmgsaid resistance.

2. In an electric signalin system, in combination, a series of norms 1yclosed makeand-break signal transmitters, a closed circuit includingsignal apparatus operable by make and break of the normal current insaid circuit and in which closed circuit said transmitters are arrangedinserles, said cirreguires very little normally closed contacts, anormally closed local circuit including said transmitter and saidoperating means, a central station circuit, a central station codetransmitter comprising contacts in said central station circuit and alsocomprising means for releasmg said transmltter including anelectromagnet 1n said local circuit, and means in- JOHN H. DERBY. JOSEPHE. BOWDEN.

